this post was submitted on 17 May 2026
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So this retro handheld review might have been my favorite so far. I have such an obsession with design language (be it gaming or all the way to architecture), and seeing something as unique and different as this rotating touch screen on a retro handheld? It won me over without a second's hesitation

This handheld is a nicely squished cube with rounded corners, has a touch screen, obviously flips up to be a gaming handheld you can (comfortably) play PlayStation/PSP and even some few GameCube/PS2 games. Although you'd have to be crazy to buy this for GCN/PS2. They're just a happy bonus (really, this is NOT a PS2 machine)

Playing music or streaming music is a blast, as are audiobooks. I've had the most fun playing GBA and PS games on here, but if you're interested in my review, you can check it out here:

https://gardinerbryant.com/hands-on-with-the-anbernic-rg-rotate/

Or, you can just ask me what you'd like to know if you'd prefer to not! I love this damn thing. If I could wear it on a belt loop, I promise you I would be doing that like it is the olden days of phones!

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[–] riquisimo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

I can't make the "sign up" drop down thing go away when on your site (linked in your post). There's no "x" to close it. It just covers the top of the page while I scroll.

That's a bit aggressive, and made me not want to read your article. Love your passion though :)

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Should be fixed now! Thanks for sharing your feedback, there's a option to close it down, Gardiner just changed it

[–] riquisimo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago

Yes, it's fixed! Ok, you get all the upvotes now, lol.

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

That's really interesting, I hadn't even noticed that banner existed!

This is all Gardiner's side of things, I just sent your thoughts over to him, thank you for the comment on it!

[–] phaneuf@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I don't play that game, but someone on Discord asked me to try the Android version for them. The only issue I found was the UI was a bit squished in the intro set-up screen:

After that it is just fine! All the pinch to zoom gestures and so on work well.

Though to be fair I'm not sure what is normal and right, as I don't play it!

[–] hakase@sh.itjust.works 38 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (5 children)

Yeah, Retro Game Corps has a great, in-depth video on this if anyone is interested. Good quality, good controls, good screen, good gimmick.

The dealbreaker for me is the legendarily awful combination of shitty, delayed bluetooth, a back-facing speaker, and no headphone jack. The most reasonable way to actually hear your games is by adding an awkward and easily losable dongle, which is not acceptable imo, especially because then you have no way to charge while you play.

Other than the unforgivable audio choices here, it looks like a really great and sleek little device.

[–] wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Who releases a product with busted AF bluetooth these days?! Hard pass until that, at least, is corrected. 🥹

[–] hakase@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's unfortunately still pretty common among discount handheld manufacturers trying to save a few cents. They can still advertise it with Bluetooth, so unless people actually watch a review that criticizes it, they are still likely to buy it none the wiser.

[–] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Seems like it would backfire due to heavy amounts of returns - especially in an economy like this where fewer people can afford to blow money on something that winds up just sitting there because it's not meeting their needs.

Yeah, that model strikes me as some boomer logic.

[–] ampersandrew@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

If the dongle you need is USB-C, I've got one for my phone that lets you charge at the same time, and it's pretty low profile. Not ideal, but an option.

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[–] YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh, you can text on your sidekick?

Cute. :: pulls out rotate and starts furiously going through games, finally succumbing to option paralysis, and boots up Stardew::

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 27 points 3 days ago (2 children)

A GameBoy Advance SP is still worthy of being a daily carry. Rock solid hardware with a huge library of timeless games.

That this thing is effectively the exact same dimensions using current tech makes it the first dedicated handheld I’ve considered getting since the DS Lite.

[–] popcar2@piefed.ca 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If you're looking for something akin to the GBA-SP but modern, check out the Anbernic RG34XX-SP.

It looks almost the same as the GBA-SP, but with better everything and can emulate other systems. Same aspect ratio too which makes it perfect for GBA emulation, and it comes in fun colors.

[–] riquisimo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

They also have an original GBA variant. There are like 5 handhelds they made with the same internals, just different form factors. It's so great.

[–] rozodru@piefed.world 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

still use mine almost daily. thing is built like a damn brick house too, rock solid. Metroid and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance are my go tos.

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[–] kahjtheundedicated@lemmy.world 17 points 3 days ago

Very strange this doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack. That’s one of the main reasons I daily carry a handheld (psp) these days. It’s as valuable to me as a mp3 player as it is a gaming device.

[–] Joelk111@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Am I missing something, or did you not include a photo of it fully open? A gif of it opening/closing would also be neat to see the mechanism. What a weird device.

Edit: Ope, found photos of it open in the linked thingy. I'd still love a gif/video, it looks kinda like the LG Wing to me, and that thing is so satisfying to fiddle with.

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

You're 100% right! I mean to some time today, record a lil video of me sweeping it open then convert it to a GIF. I've just got a few things to get through first! Someone else reminded me I forgot to do that, which is...concerning since it is the BIG point on this handheld!

For now, check Anbernic's own video on YT, it was a short one which shows the rotation well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYdxn8lDhQc

[–] Hamano@jlai.lu 12 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

I would love to have one as a Pico-8 playing device !

A bummer that it doesn't have a jack, the speaker is on the back and there is a sharp thing over the shoulder button. Also, delayed bluetooth...

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[–] mavu@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Neat, but.. i feel kind of weird asking this: What is the point of rotating a square display?

[–] Jarix@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Underneath I'm assuming is the hand help controls. Like flipping open an GameBoy Advance SP or a DS/3DS. But instead of flipping it open like a clam shell the screen is rotated open

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

"Or, you can just ask me what you’d like to know if you’d prefer to not! I love this damn thing. If I could wear it on a belt loop, I promise you I would be doing that like it is the olden days of phones!"

...just a heads-up, it is night here in Aus and I'm off to sleep. But, if there are any questions, I'll reply in the morning! Damn timezone differences -____-

(bonus Gunsmith Cats picture, for the other 4 people alive who know what this is!)

[–] wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Whaaaat?! I haven't run across anyone else who's knows about Gunsmith Cats in decades! That's a deeeep cut. 🤘🏼

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

One of my favs! Such a fun 3 episode run (aside from the manga)

I LOVE IT SO MUCH!

[–] ajikeshi@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

looks amazing and decently prized: https://anbernic.com/products/rg-rotate

but that one line makes it a neverbuy item for me:

AI: One-click game guide retrieval, real-time translation, intelligent dialogue, text-to-image generation, image processing, and more features.

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Fair enough!

(Or just delete that app)

[–] vonbaronhans@midwest.social 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)
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[–] nazokiyoubinbou@urusai.social 6 points 2 days ago (7 children)

@PerfectDark Wow, this is... uhm... ... ... wow...

What a strange idea for a handheld. 😆

I think I'd still prefer a flip where the screen is on the inside though. If you stick this in a pocket the screen isn't actually protected. To me that's more important than that it be a small minimal thing for music/etc. Though, I suppose if you look at it more as a MP3 player, ebook player, etc etc where you might not care if the screen gets scratched, it comes out ahead for that.

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[–] lyrial@anarchist.nexus 3 points 2 days ago (3 children)

The price is nice. I'd actually consider buying this since it is also just a straight up Android device so it can do more than just be an emulator.

[–] monotremata@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

Note that it only has 32GB of internal storage, which could be kinda limiting for general Android use.

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[–] dragonlover@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

How will the upcoming android changes affect this? Most of the emulators would be sideloaded right?

Would love this but worried it'll become obsolete / locked out of updates once google does it's stupid shit

[–] PerfectDark@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

None of these will affected! These retro handhelds aren't officially certified Android devices, they just run the Play Store

You can find the list here:

https://github.com/androidtrackers/certified-android-devices

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